Beats Studio Buds + | True Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds, Enhanced Apple & Android Compatibility, Built-in Microphone, Sweat Resistant Bluetooth Headphones, Spatial Audio - Black/Gold Review

The Beats Studio Buds+ in Black/Gold make an entrance. That colorway alone turns heads — there's something undeniably satisfying about popping open the case and seeing those gold-accented earbuds staring back at you. But looks only get you so far, and the real question is whether these earbuds can back up the premium aesthetic with performance that justifies the price.

The Cross-Platform Promise

Here's where Beats has genuinely threaded a needle that most earbuds can't. The Studio Buds+ offer enhanced compatibility with both Apple and Android ecosystems — not just a half-hearted Android experience bolted onto an Apple-first product. iPhone users get the full seamless pairing experience, one-tap setup, and Spatial Audio support. Android users get a dedicated app, transparent controls, and a pairing experience that doesn't feel like second-class citizenship. If you switch between platforms or share earbuds with someone on the other ecosystem, this matters more than most product listings let on.

Sound Quality: Where It Gets Interesting

Beats has long carried the reputation of being a bass-heavy lifestyle brand rather than an audiophile choice — and the Studio Buds+ doesn't fully shake that legacy, but it moves the needle. The sound profile is warmer and more V-shaped, with punchy lows and crisp highs that suit pop, hip-hop, and electronic music extremely well. Spatial Audio adds a genuine sense of width and immersion, particularly when watching video content through Apple devices.

For critical listening or genres that demand flat, reference-accurate response, these aren't the earbuds you'd reach for. But for everyday commutes, workouts, and casual listening sessions? They deliver a satisfying, energetic experience that most people will enjoy immediately without any EQ tweaking.

ANC: Good, Not Class-Leading

The active noise cancellation is the headline feature, and it performs competently in real-world conditions. Office hum, café background chatter, and light street noise get handled well. However, if you're comparing these directly to Sony's WF-1000XM5 or Apple's AirPods Pro — both of which sit in a similar price bracket — the noise cancellation falls a step behind on isolation depth, particularly for low-frequency rumble like airplane engines or subway cars.

Transparency mode, on the other hand, is genuinely impressive. It sounds natural enough that you can hold a conversation without removing the buds — a feature that daily users will come to rely on heavily.

Fit, Comfort, and Sweat Resistance

The Studio Buds+ use a vented, pressure-relieving design that sits in the ear rather than sealing deeply into the canal. This is a significant comfort advantage for extended wear — many users find deep-seal earbuds fatiguing after an hour or two. The tradeoff is slightly reduced passive isolation, which puts more load on the ANC to do the heavy lifting.

The sweat resistance rating makes these legitimate gym companions, and the secure fit handles movement well during workouts. Three ear tip sizes are included; taking the time to find the right fit dramatically improves both sound quality and ANC effectiveness — this is one of those buyer tips worth acting on immediately when you unbox them.

What Reviewers Took Issue With

No review worth reading glosses over the drawbacks. A few consistent criticisms surface from real-world users:

• Battery life is modest. The earbuds themselves offer around 9 hours of playback (ANC off), dropping to roughly 6 hours with ANC active. The case extends total battery to 36 hours total, which is competitive — but the per-session life with ANC on is on the shorter end for this category.
• Microphone quality is average. Call quality in quiet environments is fine, but wind and ambient noise cause audible degradation. Buyers who take frequent calls outdoors or in noisy settings will notice the limitations.
• Price-to-feature ratio is debatable. At their current retail price, you're paying a meaningful Beats brand premium. The Sony WF-1000XM5 offers superior ANC and comparable sound quality, while the AirPods Pro 2 edges ahead on ANC and Apple ecosystem depth. The Studio Buds+ win primarily on cross-platform flexibility and design appeal.

Who Should Actually Buy These

The Beats Studio Buds+ Black/Gold is a genuinely good choice for a specific type of buyer: someone who moves between Apple and Android devices, values a premium aesthetic, wants reliable ANC for moderate noise environments, and prioritizes long-duration comfort over deep seal isolation. Gym-goers who want something that survives sweat and stays put will find a lot to like here.

If you're an iPhone-only user who primarily wants best-in-class ANC, the AirPods Pro 2 is the smarter buy. If raw sound quality for critical listening is your goal, this price range opens up options from Sony and even some wired alternatives that will outperform on audio fidelity alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do the Beats Studio Buds+ work well with Android phones?

A: Yes — this is one of the Studio Buds+'s genuine strengths. Unlike standard AirPods, they offer a dedicated Android app with full controls, custom ANC settings, and a one-tap pairing experience that feels native rather than tacked on.

Q: How does the ANC compare to Sony WF-1000XM5 or AirPods Pro 2?

A: The Studio Buds+ ANC is solid for everyday use but falls a step behind both the Sony WF-1000XM5 and AirPods Pro 2 in deep isolation, especially for low-frequency noise like airplanes or trains. For office and café use, the difference is minimal.

Q: What is the real-world battery life with ANC on?

A: Expect approximately 6 hours of playback per charge with ANC enabled. The charging case adds additional charges for a total of around 36 hours combined, though per-session life is on the shorter side for this category.

Q: Are the Beats Studio Buds+ good for working out?

A: Yes — the sweat-resistant build and secure non-canal-seal fit make them a capable gym companion. The vented design also reduces the pressure fatigue common in deep-insert earbuds during extended physical activity.

Q: Does the Black/Gold version sound or perform differently from other colorways?

A: No — the colorway is purely cosmetic. All Studio Buds+ variants share identical internals, ANC performance, and battery life regardless of finish.

— Home Lead Editor 1, CPrice